Device and method for capturing and forwarding verbalized comments to a remote location

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for sending a verbalized comment to a remote computer server. The device includes a processor that executes and operates the various software and hardware components. A microphone is utilized to record a comment. Temporary storage buffers the recorded comment. An auto-dialing application is utilized to automatically dial a telephone number associated with the remote computer server. The mode of transmission can include an RF module for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external mobile network, a WiFi module for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external IP network, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) interface module for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external legacy telephone network. The comment can be sent via email over an IP network, via MMS over a mobile network, or directly over a telephone connection including POTS, cellular (mobile), and VoIP.

1 . A method of sending a verbalized comment from a device situated at or near a point-of-sale or a point-of-service to a remote computer server, the method comprising:
 receiving audio input at the device;   storing the received audio in a temporary buffer; and   automatically forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a plain old telephone service (POTS) network; and   automatically playing the recorded audio back over the established telephone connection.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a plain old telephone service (POTS) network comprises having an auto-dialing device automatically dial the telephone number associated with the remote computer server. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a mobile cellular network; and   automatically playing the recorded audio back over the established telephone voice connection.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a mobile cellular network comprises having an auto-dialing device automatically dial the telephone number associated with the remote computer server. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network; and   automatically playing the recorded audio back over the established telephone voice connection.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein establishing a telephone voice connection with the remote computer server using a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network comprises having an auto-dialing device automatically dial the telephone number associated with the remote computer server. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically composing an email message having a destination address associated with the remote computer server;   attaching the recorded audio as a file attachment to the email message; and   automatically sending the email message from the device to the remote computer server over an IP network.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically composing a multi-media service (MMS) message having a destination telephone number associated with the remote computer server;   attaching the recorded audio as a file attachment to the MMS message; and   automatically sending the MMS message from the device to the remote computer server over a cellular mobile network.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising reviewing the recorded audio prior to forwarding the audio input to the remote computer server such that it can be erased if desired. 
   
   
       11 . A method of sending a text comment from a device situated at or near a point-of-sale or a point-of-service to a remote computer server, the method comprising:
 receiving text data at the device;   storing the received text data in a temporary buffer; and   automatically forwarding the text data to the remote computer server.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein forwarding the text data to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically composing an email message having a destination address associated with the remote computer server;   attaching the text data as a file attachment to the email message; and   automatically sending the email message from the device to the remote computer server over an IP network.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein forwarding the text data to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically composing an email message having a destination address associated with the remote computer server;   inserting the text data into the body of the email message; and   automatically sending the email message from the device to the remote computer server over an IP network.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein forwarding the text data to the remote computer server comprises:
 automatically composing a multi-media service (MMS) message having a destination telephone number associated with the remote computer server;   attaching the text data as a file attachment to the MMS message; and   automatically sending the MMS message from the device to the remote computer server over a cellular mobile network.   
   
   
       15 . A device for sending a verbalized comment to a remote computer server comprising:
 a processor for executing and operating the various software and hardware components of the device;   a microphone coupled with the processor for recording a verbalized comment;   temporary storage coupled with the processor for buffering the recorded verbalized comment;   an auto-dialing application coupled with the processor for dialing a telephone number associated with the remote computer server;   one or more of:
 an RF module coupled with the processor for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external mobile network; 
 a WiFi module coupled with the processor for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external IP network; and 
 a plain old telephone service (POTS) interface module coupled with the processor for automatically establishing a voice connection with an external legacy telephone network; and 
   one or more of:
 an email application coupled with the processor for automatically composing and sending an email message including an audio file attachment to an email address associated with the remote computer server; and 
 a multi-media service (MMS) application coupled with the processor for automatically composing and sending an MMS message including an audio file attachment to a telephone number associated with the remote computer server. 
   
   
   
       16 . The device of claim  19  further comprising a speaker coupled with the processor for playing back the recorded verbalized comment. 
   
   
       17 . A device for sending a text comment to a remote computer server comprising:
 a processor for executing and operating the various software and hardware components of the device;   a keyboard coupled with the processor for accepting a text data comment;   a display for displaying the text data comment as it is being composed;   temporary storage coupled with the processor for buffering the text data comment;   one or more of:
 an RF module coupled with the processor for automatically establishing a data connection with an external mobile network; and 
 a WiFi module coupled with the processor for automatically establishing a data connection with an external IP network; and 
   one or more of:
 an email application coupled with the processor for automatically composing and sending an email message including a text file attachment to an email address associated with the remote computer server; and 
 a multi-media service (MMS) application coupled with the processor for automatically composing and sending an MMS message including a text file attachment to a telephone number associated with the remote computer server.